WASHINGTON — Russell Hedrick, a farmer from North Carolina, utilizes drones for spraying fertilizers across his corn, soybean, and wheat crops, achieving significant cost savings compared to traditional ground spreaders. Additionally, as a volunteer rescuer, he operates thermal drones for search missions following mudslides and employs cargo drones to deliver essentials like water and baby formula to those in need, as he did after Hurricane Helene.
However, he now harbors concerns about the future sustainability of his drone operations. The majority of commercial drones available in the U.S., including those in Hedrick’s use, come from China. Lawmakers view this dependency as a dual threat involving espionage risks alongside challenges for domestic manufacturers, who struggle to compete against these imports.
This situation exemplifies the growing economic and technological rivalry between the U.S. and China, which is expected to escalate with the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the White House. Trump has indicated a firm stance on addressing Chinese influence. Recent actions by Washington already include placing restrictions on Chinese telecommunications firms and imposing high tariffs on electric vehicles produced in China, indicating a broader competition surrounding critical technologies such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
A defense bill passed by Congress on December 18 includes measures to prohibit two Chinese companies from marketing new drones in the U.S. if they are found to create an “unacceptable risk” to national security. Furthermore, the government has restricted federal agencies from procuring Chinese drones, although some exceptions exist, and numerous states have enacted similar bans against using or financing Chinese drones in public projects.
The ramifications of a wider ban are alarming for many Americans who have integrated drones into various sectors of work, affecting operations from law enforcement to filmmaking. Drone operators claim that the efficient and cost-effective nature of Chinese drones makes various activities viable, a standard that is not matched by American-made alternatives.
Hedrick began implementing Chinese drones in 2019 to enhance his farming practices, revealing that a drone sprayer only costs about $35,000, whereas a traditional sprayer would amount to approximately $250,000. “With the efficiency of drones, we can do things we couldn’t manage before, like applying fertilizers more sparingly, which ultimately benefits consumers,” he remarked.
This reliance on Chinese drones has lawmakers worried. Representative Elise Stefanik from New York, who has been appointed by Trump to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, argued that allowing China to dominate drone manufacturing is strategically reckless. Having previously spearheaded efforts to prohibit new imports of Chinese drones, she emphasizes the risks involved.
Senator Rick Scott from Florida also pushed for restrictions on purchases of Chinese drones by government agencies, believing that their use threatens military bases and critical infrastructure. Scott likened the functions of these drones to that of spy balloons capable of gathering sensitive data.
Michael Robbins, head of AUVSI, an advocacy group for unmanned vehicles, opposes an immediate ban on Chinese drones. Instead, he advocates for government investment aimed at bolstering the American drone industry to bridge the capability and cost gap with Chinese competitors. He commended Congress for including provisions in the 2025 defense budget that promote investment in autonomous technologies and secure supply chains in U.S. drone manufacturing.
The vulnerability of the U.S. drone industry was highlighted earlier this year when restrictions were imposed on Skydio, a U.S. drone manufacturer, causing them to limit their battery supplies sourced from China. Adam Bry, Skydio’s CEO, noted that these actions seemed intended to reduce the power of leading American drone firms while increasing dependence on Chinese manufacturers.
China also imposed limits on exporting drone components to the U.S., complicating the situation further. John Goodson, head of Darkhive, a drone company based in San Antonio, stated that a ban would not deter Chinese producers from selling elsewhere but would hinder U.S. producers reliant on Chinese components.
Faine Greenwood, an avid drone enthusiast, pointed out that it remains impractical to ban Chinese drones given the scarcity of viable alternatives in the market. “If we eliminate Chinese drones, many of our current projects would suffer significantly,” he lamented.
The most prominent Chinese manufacturer is DJI Technology Co., established in 2006 and headquartered in Shenzhen. It dominates both the global and U.S. drone markets, known for offering affordable, high-performance products that even find their way into military contexts like the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, despite DJI not producing military-grade drones.
DJI’s devices have been instrumental for first responders in rescue missions, surveying efforts by mappers, pest control treatments, and various other applications, including law enforcement operations. Following Hurricane Helene, Hedrick activated drones for search and rescue, successfully aiding in locating 150 individuals stranded in the aftermath. He utilized DJI drones to deliver necessities when immediate rescues weren’t feasible.
While Hedrick expressed a desire for American-made drones, he acknowledged that existing U.S. models do not match the reliability or user-friendly software provided by DJI and tend to cost significantly more.
After a deterioration in U.S.-China relations, DJI came under increased scrutiny from the U.S. government, facing blacklists due to alleged human rights violations linked to their drones being used for surveillance against the Uyghur population. DJI disputed these allegations and has initiated legal action against the Pentagon for labeling the company as part of the Chinese military complex. Additionally, U.S. customs officials have obstructed some shipments from DJI amid concerns regarding forced labor in their production processes.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Washington criticized the politicization of trade. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the embassy, stated that China supports its companies in international trade, opposing sanctions aimed at those firms due to alleged national security claims.
Some states have already limited the deployment of Chinese drones; Tennessee, for instance, prohibited public agencies from purchasing DJI products, impacting local agencies significantly. Captain Chris Lowe from the Kingsport Fire Department experienced difficulties when a DJI drone he was using was lost. The replacement drone from an approved list amounted to $5,000, vastly outpacing the $1,500 cost of a new DJI Mavic Pro, which would not match the capabilities of the predecessor.
In Wimberley, Texas, Gene Robinson employed drones to conduct forensic analyses, which led to significant breakthroughs in police investigations. He expressed that his research project would be severely compromised if faced with a nationwide ban on Chinese drones.
At the Department of the Interior, policies limiting foreign drone use have reportedly stunted data collection efforts relating to landscapes and wildlife, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
In Florida, law enforcement officials shared frustrations with the state senate over the negative impact of restrictions on operable drones. This prompted state lawmakers to allocate $25 million to assist government drone programs in acquiring compliant devices.
Christopher Todd, the executive director of a nonprofit organization dealing with international drone response, described the transition as complicated, emphasizing the necessary adjustments to software interfaces, protocols, and equipment configurations. Despite the obstacles, funding and training initiatives have aided this shift, he added.
Currently, over 90% of law enforcement agencies in Florida were utilizing DJI drones in 2022, a figure which plunged to around 14% after the ban. In Orange County, the sheriff’s office reported spending nearly $580,000 to replace 18 non-compliant drones but managed to recover around $400,000 in state reimbursement for this expenditure. They noted that despite the challenges, the transition helped enhance their drone capabilities and overall operational effectiveness.
